OSHA Renews Strategic Partnership with Power Transmission and Distribution

January 26, 2011 -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today renewed a strategic partnership with the Electrical Transmission and Distribution Construction Contractors, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and other trade associations to reduce injuries, illnesses and deaths among electrical transmission and distribution industry workers, among other goals.

Contractors Association, Pike Electric Inc., and Quanta Services, Inc. Partnership goals also include establishing the causes of injuries, illnesses and deaths in this industry and recommending best practices to

reduce these incidents; ensuring that industry workers are trained in using recommended best practices; and establishing a strategy to evaluate and ensure that the goals of the partnership are met.

"I am pleased to see the members of this OSHA Strategic Partnership back at the table today to sign a new agreement. This tells that the previous years of the partnership have been successful for everyone concerned and that you find value in working with OSHA and with each other," said Assistant

Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels.

"The families of workers in this industry are counting on us to work together so that every worker returns home, safe and healthy, at the end of every single workday."

The partnership achieved several goals since it was last renewed in 2008. These include reducing the number of fatal accidents from six in 2008 to two in 2009, and reducing the Days Away From Work, Restricted Work Activity, or Job Transfer Rate from 4.04 in 2008 to 2.95 in 2009. Additionally, nearly 4,400 apprentices, journeymen, foremen and general foremen completed the OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Training Program for the electrical transmission and distribution industry.

OSHA's Strategic Partnership Program helps encourage, assist and recognize the efforts of partners to eliminate serious workplace hazards and achieve a high level of worker safety and health. Most strategic partnerships seek to have a broad impact by building cooperative relationships with groups of

employers and workers. These partnerships are voluntary relationships among OSHA, employers, worker representatives and others, including trade unions, trade and professional associations, universities and other government agencies.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

Discuss this Blog Entry 1

It is important that our industry continue to be active partners with OSHA. It is a testament to electric utilities and especially the lineman that injuries have been low. I am proud that my company, Tech Products, Inc. is continually working with OSHA and ANSI to find the right mix of functionality and practicality on our safety products.